Articles

How should American Muslims represent and talk about themselves? Is there a place for distinguishing between immigrant and indigenous communities, or is it a dichotomy that should be avoided? Who should drive and lead the agenda for the Muslim community in the future? These and other questions are discussed in Part 3 of this ongoing series.

Wandering Seventh Avenue, looking for a sign, I sought natural beauty, a reminder of the Divine. I was a commoner searching for the artist through His art. But where was I less than 24 hours from the Tazkiyah Retreat that I needed something in His creation to remind me of Him? Whenever is He absent?

Why does the Quran tell us that the Jews claim Ezra (ʿUzayr) is the son of God, when Jews do not make this claim or anything approaching it? This is not a question that arose just recently during an interfaith panel. It’s not a new question at all. How should we understand this?

American Muslims activists must be extremely careful not to get swept away in the current sea of populism which has produced unsavory actions. Constant re-anchoring in what is and what is not Prophetic character is a means of safety from being washed away.

An activist in the Muslim community for nearly two decades, Hosai Mojaddidi has brought her unique contributions to numerous non-profit organizations, in addition to lecturing and teaching in Southern California. She is the co-founder of MentalHealth4Muslims, an organization devoted to mental health support. In this interview, she shared her thoughts on her work and mental health in the community.

It is high time that we recognize the urgency of our need and responsibility to re-examine our limiting conception of Islam as a “religion”, and adopt the mindset of our pre-modern scholars while acknowledging our own unique context.

The constant stream of news about tragedies, injustices and bloodshed at home and abroad can leave us disoriented, anguished, frustrated, angry and in a state of despair. When it all just seems too much, here are a few steps to consider taking.

One can be concerned about Black lives and be a non-Black person who centers the importance of Black lives and Black leadership within the police accountability movement without agreeing with all of the platform and tactics of the non-profit organization which is seen as a movement. There is no one organization or set of strategies that has a monopoly on addressing Black suffering within the African American community.

As a Black man, I do not see any one way of being Black nor do I see only one way for non-Blacks to be allies in the struggle against Black suffering. Non-Black Muslims can march or not march, join boycotts, call congressmen to demand congressional hearings and stronger accountability for police brutality to joining forums regarding policing on the local level. What is paramount is that the engagement be done based upon Prophetic parameters, not blameworthy standard of the ends justifying the means which runs counter to the Qur’an and the Prophetic Sunnah.

To the orphans, widows, homeless, victims of natural disasters, and those cast away and forgotten by the world in which we live, Edhi Sahib was a saint. He represented the best qualities of Islam. Altruism. Humanitarianism. Compassion for the needy and helpless. He was a beacon of hope in a sea of despair; a role-model and hero to many.

For many new Muslims, Eid is one of the loneliest times of the year. While everyone else is celebrating, they have no family or friends to celebrate with. Instead of being a time of joy, it is a time of confusion and melancholy. So, what can you do to help?

Let not the injustice of others make you also unust. Instead, help each other and do participate in all that is mutual and all that is good. Anything that is virtuous, anything that is righteous that is done by other parties – do take part in it. Help in it. But do not help and do not take part in that which is transgression and injustice.

Salam Aref is a Muslim American designer and a student of Architecture who is introducing SiwarBox, a subscription box that delivers custom designed accessories inspired by Islamic architecture. Her project has more than one dimension to inspire and start a conversation promoting peace and Islamic art. In an interview with ImanWire, she delves into her unique initiative.